Chennai: The Mahila court in city has awarded life sentence to a 33-year-old van driver on a charge of murdering his aunt after stealing her gold jewellery from her residence two years ago. Sessions judge R. Kalaimathi also imposed on him a fine of Rs 7,000.
According to the prosecution, B. Rajendran, 33, of Chembarambakkam, was operating a van for school students. He obtained a huge amount from friends and others as a loan. His friends were forcing him to settle the amount immediately.
As his expense was shooting up after his wife became pregnant, he sought the help of his aunt, Hemavathi, 51, of Kolathur. On November 20, 2014, he went to her residence seeking loan amount.
Hemavathi refused to give either money or her jewellery after an altercation Rajendran attacked her with a 'kitchen knife', (aruvamanai).
Hemavathi sustained grievous injuries and neighbours rushed her to the Kilpauk Government Hospital, where she died in the evening.
Meanwhile, Rajendran pledged the jewellery with Muthoot Finance, Poonamallee and obtained Rs 70,000 from the finance company.
Kolathur police registered a case and arrested Rajendran. The cops seized receipt, issued by the finance company, from him, said special additional public prosecutor, Gowri Ashokan.
On a completion of the trial, the judge awarded life sentence to Rajendran for killing his aunt in a gruesome manner and slapped a fine of Rs 7,000.
